Following changes to the routes to qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales, David Stewart, Assistant Head of the Law School at the University of Westminster, explains when the LPC is still an option, and the benefits of choosing this route. 

What are the changes to qualifying as a solicitor?

The newest way to qualify as a solicitor is through the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) route. However, you may still be able to qualify by doing a Legal Practice Course, and this route remains a great choice if you have a Qualifying Law Degree or a Graduate Diploma in Law.

Why choose the Legal Practice Course?

  • You can choose to do the LPC as part of an LLM (Master of Laws), and thus become eligible to access up to £11,836* funding from the government Master’s loan (*figure correct as of May 2022)
  • You'll have two ways of qualifying as a solicitor in the future: via a training contract, or via the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) and Qualifying Work Experience
  • You’ll study specialist areas such as entertainment and media, family, housing, commercial law or commercial property, allowing you to develop your interests   
  • You'll develop and be assessed on skills needed for practice and future skills exams

What are my qualification options after completing the Legal Practice Course?

Option 1: the traditional route

  1. Complete a Qualifying Law Degree or MLaw or Graduate Diploma in Law
  2. Complete the Legal Practice Course (eg Legal Practice LLM) 
  3. Complete a training contract*
  4. Complete the Professional Skills Course

*You can apply for an exemption from the training contract by evidencing two year’s supervised work experience where you met the Solicitors Regulation Authority's Practice Skills Standard.

Option 2: the new SQE route

  1. Complete a Qualifying Law Degree or MLaw or Graduate Diploma in Law
  2. Complete the Legal Practice Course (eg Legal Practice LLM) 
  3. Take the exemption from SQE1** (provided by the Legal Practice Course)
  4. Complete Qualifying Work Experience 
  5. Do the SQE2**

**The two-part Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) consists of SQE1 (two multiple choice papers, which are five hours in length and have 180 questions each) and SQE2 (16 oral and written skills tests over five days).

Am I eligible for the Legal Practice Course?

You're only eligible to apply via the LPC route if before 1 September 2021, you completed, started, accepted an offer of a place or paid a non-refundable deposit for one of the following:

  • the Common Professional Examination (CPE) / Graduate Diploma in Law
  • the Legal Practice Course
  • a period of recognised training (also known as a training contract)

If taking a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD) or Exempting Law Degree (ELD), you're eligible if you completed, started, accepted an offer of a place or paid a non-refundable deposit by 21 September 2021 (inclusive).

In most cases, for the QLD, ELD and CPE, your course must have started at the latest on or before 31 December 2021.

If you're eligible, you'll have until 31 December 2032 to qualify as a solicitor via the Legal Practice Course route, as long as courses still remain available. Read more on the Solicitor's Regulation Authority website. 

Study the Legal Practice Course at Westminster 

Westminster Law School has a well-established reputation for solicitors' vocational training. We offer various study options for the Legal Practice Course, with both full-time and part-time courses available.